<\/p>\n
# Mode 13h: MS-DOSify!<\/p>\n
*An **Iris** shader pack for Minecraft that recreates the look of late-90s **MS-DOS** 3D graphics with deliberate retro accuracy.*<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
**Mode 13h: MS-DOSify!** is not just a generic \u201cpixelation\u201d shader. It aims to reproduce the actual visual limitations and quirks that gave old DOS-era 3D games their unmistakable look: low resolution, affine texture warping, limited color depth, stepped lighting, billboarded sprites, and carefully tuned fog.<\/p>\n
It has currently only been **tested on Minecraft `1.20.1`**, but it **should also work on other versions**.<\/p>\n
> **Recommended render resolution: `1280 x 800`**
\n> The shader pack is designed to **downscale by 4x** to an internal **`320 x 200`** image, matching classic **Mode 13h** output.
\n> For the most authentic look, stretch the final image to **`4:3`** to reproduce the era\u2019s **non-square pixels**.<\/p>\n
## \ud83e\uddfe Why This Exists<\/p>\n
A lot of \u201cretro\u201d shaders stop at chunky pixels and call it a day.<\/p>\n
**Mode 13h** goes further. It tries to recreate the specific rendering artifacts that defined old DOS-era 3D, including the quirks modern graphics usually try to hide or eliminate. The goal is not just to look old \u2014 it is to feel like an actual late-90s PC pushing textured 3D slightly beyond its comfort zone.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
## \u2728 Features<\/p>\n
### \ud83d\udcfa Authentic low-resolution output<\/p>\n
– The image is downscaled to a **Mode 13h-style `320 x 200`** internal resolution.
\n– This gives the shader pack the crunchy image structure typical of classic DOS graphics.<\/p>\n
### \ud83e\uddf1 Affine texture mapping<\/p>\n
– Textures use **affine mapping** instead of perspective-correct mapping.
\n– This recreates the classic **texture wobble and warping** seen in older software-rendered 3D games.<\/p>\n
### \ud83c\udfa8 Retro palette reduction<\/p>\n
– Colors are quantized to a **256-color** style output.
\n– An optional **`6 x 6 x 6`** palette provides a more limited **216-color** look.<\/p>\n
### \ud83d\udca1 Stepped lighting<\/p>\n
– Lighting is **quantized** into configurable brightness steps.
\n– Setting it to **16** steps gives something closer to vanilla Minecraft\u2019s light progression while keeping the retro feel.<\/p>\n
### \ud83c\udf2b\ufe0f Tuned fog<\/p>\n
– Fog is adjusted to better match the mood and readability of old-school 3D visuals.
\n– It helps sell distance the way older games often did.<\/p>\n
### \ud83e\udea7 Billboarded sprites<\/p>\n
– Many blocks and decorations render as **2D billboards** that always face the player.
\n– This mimics the sprite-based tricks commonly used in older 3D games.<\/p>\n
## \u2699\ufe0f Configuration<\/p>\n
The shader includes a **configuration menu** with several options so you can fine-tune the effect to your taste.<\/p>\n
You can adjust things such as:<\/p>\n
– **Fog tuning parameters**
\n– **Affine mapping parameters**
\n– **Color reduction mode**, including switching between **256-color** and **216-color**
\n– **Add-on compatibility toggles**, which can be enabled or disabled individually
\n– **Resolution reduction**
\n– And other settings for dialing in the exact retro look you want<\/p>\n
## \ud83d\udd27 Technical Notes<\/p>\n
– Built for **Iris** and compatible with **Oculus**
\n– Currently only **tested with Minecraft `1.20.1`**, though it should work on other versions as well
\n– Targets **OpenGL `4.1`**, so it can also run on **macOS**<\/p>\n
## \ud83e\udde9 Add-ons<\/p>\n
**Mode 13h** also has optional companion add-ons that expand the billboarding system.<\/p>\n
> **Important:** Add-ons are **not included** with the shader pack. They must be **downloaded separately**.<\/p>\n
### \ud83e\udea7 Flatter Signs<\/p>\n
**Flatter Signs** is a mod that changes signs into **cross\/hatch models**, allowing Mode 13h to billboard them like flowers or grass.<\/p>\n
Without the shader pack, those signs simply render as flat cross\/hatch objects. With **Mode 13h** enabled, they become proper DOS-style billboarded signs.<\/p>\n
### \ud83e\uddf1 Billy-Boarding *(WIP)*<\/p>\n
**Billy-Boarding** is a resource pack that changes the **`.json` block models** of selected blocks so they become **cross\/hatch-based** and therefore compatible with the shader\u2019s billboarding system.<\/p>\n
If you install these add-ons, you can enable or disable their dedicated support from the **shader configuration screen**.<\/p>\n
## \ud83c\udf0c Recommended with a Stylized Sky<\/p>\n
For the best overall presentation, it is recommended to pair **Mode 13h** with a **stylized skybox**.<\/p>\n
At the moment, the recommended choice is **Anime Sky**.<\/p>\n
A bespoke skybox made specifically for **Mode 13h** may come in the future.<\/p>\n
## \u274c What It Is Not<\/p>\n
– Not just a simple \u201cpixelation\u201d filter
\n– Not a generic CRT-style retro effect
\n– Not a clean or modernized take on retro visuals<\/p>\n
**Mode 13h** intentionally embraces visual instability, harsh quantization, and awkward old rendering tricks \u2014 because that is the whole point.<\/p>\n
## \ud83d\udd87\ufe0f Credits<\/p>\n
– **Shader pack & idea:** *HandLock_*<\/p>\n
> *\u201cIf the textures don\u2019t wobble, it\u2019s not old enough.\u201d*<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An Iris shader pack for Minecraft that recreates the look of late-90s MS-DOS 3D graphics with deliberate retro accuracy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":104140,"template":"","meta":{"_minecraft_slug":"mode-13h","_minecraft_project_id":"X5nQ5C2A","_minecraft_author":"HandLock_","_minecraft_license":"AGPL-3.0-only","_minecraft_downloads":1308,"_minecraft_follows":14,"_minecraft_client_side":"required","_minecraft_server_side":"unsupported","_minecraft_storage_type":"zip","_minecraft_archive_name":"mode-13h.zip","_minecraft_size_bytes":185837,"_minecraft_version_count":4,"_minecraft_updated_at":"2026-05-16T11:16:25.741686Z","_minecraft_date_created":"2026-03-19T06:51:02.627902Z","_minecraft_date_modified":"2026-04-07T13:02:52.691233Z","_minecraft_project_url":"https:\/\/modrinth.com\/mod\/mode-13h","_minecraft_icon_attachment_id":104140,"_minecraft_imported_at":"2026-06-05T23:52:19+00:00","_minecraft_import_hash":"e9d46318e235e366c735fa74cb5ec2ed","_minecraft_versions":"","_minecraft_links":"","_minecraft_gallery":"","_minecraft_api_metadata":""},"mod_category":[880,991,43,1001,883,886,887],"mod_loader":[890,891],"minecraft_version":[59,36,60,93,94,101,102,62,37,40,41,73,74,38,78,79,80,81,82],"class_list":["post-104139","mod","type-mod","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","mod_category-atmosphere","mod_category-cartoon","mod_category-cursed","mod_category-foliage","mod_category-iris","mod_category-optifine","mod_category-potato","mod_loader-iris","mod_loader-optifine","minecraft_version-1-20","minecraft_version-1-20-1","minecraft_version-1-20-2","minecraft_version-1-20-3","minecraft_version-1-20-4","minecraft_version-1-20-5","minecraft_version-1-20-6","minecraft_version-1-21","minecraft_version-1-21-1","minecraft_version-1-21-10","minecraft_version-1-21-11","minecraft_version-1-21-2","minecraft_version-1-21-3","minecraft_version-1-21-4","minecraft_version-1-21-5","minecraft_version-1-21-6","minecraft_version-1-21-7","minecraft_version-1-21-8","minecraft_version-1-21-9"],"yoast_head":"\n